Midnight Conversations
782 Words
The Stormgale packhouse was quiet, the night settling over the territory like a heavy blanket. Bonny lay on the guest bed in Draven’s room, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. Sleep refused to come, her thoughts spinning in endless circles about Aneles, her father, and the lingering frustration she couldn’t shake.
After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, she gave up. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on her cardigan and tiptoed out of the room. The packhouse was eerily silent as she made her way outside, the cool night air brushing against her skin.
The Stormgale garden was breathtaking even in the moonlight. Rows of flowers—lilies, roses, and irises—bloomed in carefully tended beds, their soft fragrance calming her nerves. She wandered down one of the stone paths, letting her fingers brush against the petals.
“Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”
Bonny jumped at the voice, spinning around to see Elias standing a few feet away, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His silver eyes glimmered in the dim light, and his dark blue hair fell loosely over his shoulders.
“You scared me,” she said, placing a hand over her racing heart.
Elias chuckled softly, stepping closer. “Didn’t mean to. I saw you wandering out here and figured I’d join you. The garden’s nice at night, isn’t it?”
Bonny nodded, turning her gaze back to the flowers. “Yeah. It’s peaceful.”
They walked in silence for a moment before Elias spoke again. “So, what’s on your mind? You look… tense.”
Bonny hesitated, then sighed. “It’s Aneles. I… I don’t know what to do. She’s my best friend, but she won’t tell me what’s going on with her. And my dad… he knows something, but he won’t tell me either. It’s like I’m the only one being left in the dark.”
Elias tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe it’s not about you being left out. Maybe she’s just not ready to share it yet. People like Aneles… they’re strong, but sometimes they carry more than they let on. It’s not easy for them to open up.”
“I know that,” Bonny said, her voice tinged with frustration. “But it feels like she doesn’t trust me. And I… I just want to help her.”
Elias stopped walking, turning to face her. “Have you told her that?”
Bonny blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
“Sometimes people don’t realize how much we care about them,” Elias said, his tone softer now. “If you want her to trust you, maybe you need to tell her how you feel. Let her know you’re not just being pushy, that you’re worried because you care. And maybe apologize if you’ve been a little… intense.”
Bonny winced. “I guess I have been a bit clingy.”
Elias smiled. “She’ll understand. People like her usually do. And when she’s ready, she’ll tell you what’s going on.”
Bonny felt some of the tension in her chest ease. His words made sense, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “Thanks, Elias. I needed to hear that.”
“Anytime,” he said with a slight bow, his silver eyes twinkling with mischief. Then, after a moment, he added, “You know, you should bring her here sometime.”
“Aneles?” Bonny asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elias nodded. “Yeah. She seems… interesting. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something about her that stands out. I’d like to meet her properly. Maybe the four of us could go skating or something.”
Bonny laughed softly. “I’ll think about it. But knowing her, she’d probably need a lot of convincing.”
“That’s fine,” Elias said with a grin. “I’m good at convincing people.”
Bonny rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. For the first time in days, she felt a little lighter, like the weight of her worries wasn’t quite so heavy. Maybe Elias was right. Maybe she just needed to be honest with Aneles, to let her know how much she cared and give her the space to open up when she was ready.
“Thanks again, Elias,” she said as they started walking back toward the packhouse. “You’re not as annoying as Draven makes you out to be.”
Elias laughed. “Don’t let him fool you. I’m much worse.”
They both chuckled, the tension in the air easing as the garden faded behind them and the packhouse came into view.
- Writer
